Longest bridge in the world: green light (Italy)

heavyzakura334 · October 13th, 2005, 10:00 AM

October 13 2005 at 01:21AM

By Rachel Sanderson

Rome - A centuries-old project to link mainland Italy to the island of Sicily took a major step forward yesterday when an international consortium won a multi-billion-euro contract to build a bridge connecting them.

It will be the longest suspension bridge in the world, with a central span of 3,3km, nearly three times longer than San Francisco's Golden Gate. Its two towers will be 383m high - taller than the Eiffel Tower.

The Italian state-run company in charge announced that a consortium led by Italian firm Impregilo had been awarded the €3,88-billion contract.

This was a 12 percent discount on the €4.4-billion provisional price tag the government had pinned on the most complex engineering job in Italian history.

Building is due to begin next year and is due to finish in 2012, but critics doubt whether cash-strapped Italy will ever complete the mega-project.

Italy's Green Party said the bridge would be an eyesore and act as "a Trojan horse for the Mafia", drawing mobsters from all over Italy.

Premier Silvio Berlusconi championed it during his 2001 election campaign and has argued that the bridge is vital for Italy's impoverished south, which suffers a high unemployment rate.

Opponents say the money would be better spent improving roads, railways, schools and hospitals in the south.

The idea of linking the toe of Italy to Sicily was first mooted in Roman times. At present, travellers have to take a ferry to cross the straights - a trip which can take two hours.

The 60-metre wide bridge would have 10 lanes for cars, trains and emergency vehicles, and will be able to handle 6 000 cars an hour and 200 trains a day.

Supporters say it will substantially increase commercial and tourism traffic through southern Italy and into Sicily, boosting the island's economy.

Environmentalists say the bridge is potentially hazardous, given that it lies in an active earthquake zone.

Messina, the main city on the Sicilian side of the straits, was destroyed by a 7.1 magnitude earthquake in 1908 that killed some 87 000 people.

Architects say the structure would be able to withstand an earthquake of more than 7.1.

The entire bridge, including supporting cables, would weigh some 300 000 tons.

Engineers said tests showed the bridge would withstand a bomb attack or the impact of a plane crash into one or more of its supporting cables.

The consortium also includes a Japanese and a Spanish company as well as small Italian firms. - Reuters

Þróndeimr · October 13th, 2005, 10:30 AM

Great news, and renderings?

mtb_nz · October 13th, 2005, 10:56 AM

wow that will be a massive bridge... anyone have any renders?

Capzilla · October 13th, 2005, 10:56 AM

So that's where my taxes went...

Balikbayan · October 13th, 2005, 11:27 AM

Earthquakes and suspension bridges do peacefully co-exist. The 7 Richter Scale Kobe earthquake was not a problem for the Akashi Kaikyo Ohashi, presently the worlds longest single-span bridge. Also, while there was considerable damage to the Oakland bridge and McArthur Freeway during the last 'quake there, no damage sustained by the suspension spans of this bridge or the Golden Gate bridge.

Bahraini Spirit · October 13th, 2005, 11:53 AM

Should be very interesting, I've passed through the sea which seperates Sicily and mainland Italy, can imagine how this one would look like, really cool.

909 · October 13th, 2005, 12:09 PM

Don't know if this is the final design, but here are some drawings:

Sorry, they are not that small...

More pics: http://www.tu-berlin.de/presse/doku/stretto_di_messina/

NavyBlue · October 13th, 2005, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heavyzakura334

The 60-metre wide bridge would have 10 lanes for cars, trains and emergency vehicles, and will be able to handle 6 000 cars an hour and 200 trains a day.

Would this make it the widest bridge in the world?

CborG · October 13th, 2005, 12:29 PM

I can only see 2x2 lanes + 2 emergencylanes, great brigde though!

Van der Rohe · October 13th, 2005, 01:46 PM

AMAZING!!!

fahed · October 13th, 2005, 02:08 PM

Amazing! I hope it gets built without the interfere of the opponents

Dubai-Lover · October 13th, 2005, 02:34 PM

wow
amazing project
383m pilons

just a question: is there such a high demand for a bridge of these dimensions for the traffic between sicily and italy, which can justify an investment of this scale?

fabrik · October 13th, 2005, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dubai-Lover

just a question: is there such a high demand for a bridge of these dimensions for the traffic between sicily and italy, which can justify an investment of this scale?

There isn't..

Ellatur · October 13th, 2005, 05:41 PM

AWWWWWWWWEsome! great news

question: isn't it dangerous for such a big building to be built in such an earthquake zone?

***malec*** · October 13th, 2005, 05:46 PM

I thought the longest bridge was somewhere in China and it is 30-something km in length.

SHOCK TREATMENT · October 13th, 2005, 06:58 PM

It's the longest suspension bridge but not the longest bridge in the world full stop, there are several bridges that can match this for size including the Second Severn Crossing completed in 1996 and linking England and Wales across the Severn Estuary

The proposed Morecambe Bay Bridge will dwarf the Severn Bridge and will be a lot bigger than the Italian Bridge.

Other big Bridges in the UK include -:

The Humber Bridge

Phobos · October 13th, 2005, 07:18 PM

Impressive project

Dubai-Lover · October 13th, 2005, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by malec

I thought the longest bridge was somewhere in China and it is 30-something km in length.

the thread title is wrong
it's the bridge with the longest span between the pilons/towers

title of the longest bridge is boring
the crown discipline is the span between 2 pilons/towers, which in this case is almost a world wonder.

Rhoy · October 13th, 2005, 07:34 PM

Technical Project
• 3.300 metres - length of the central span
• 3.666 metres - the total length
• 60,4 metres - width of the suspended deck
• 382,60 metres - total height of the towers
• 2 pairs of suspension cables
• 5.300 metres long with a diameter of 1,24 metres - dimensions of the cables
• 44.352 wires for each cable
• 65 metres high by 600 wide - the minimum central navigable clearance

Road and rail capacity
• 6 driving lanes, 3 for each direction (1 fast, 1 normal, 1 emergency)
• 2 service lanes
• 2 rail tracks
• 6.000 vehicles/hour and 200 trains/day - the theorical traffic capacity

Records
• 3.300 metres length of the central span - 1991 metres Akashi Bridge (Japan)
• 60,4 metres width of the suspended deck- 41 metres Tsing Ma Bridge (Hong Kong)
• 382,60 metres height of the towers- 297 metres Akashi Bridge (Japan)
• 4 cables - suspension system- 2 Akashi Bridge (Japan)
• 1,24 metres diameter of suspension cables- 1,12 metres Akashi Bridge (Japan)
• 44.352 wires for each steel cable- 36.830 Akashi Bridge (Japan)

UnitedPakistan · October 13th, 2005, 07:42 PM

Intresting!

Pakistan is also trying to make one of the longest bridges!

From Karachi to Bundle Island

October 13th, 2005, 10:00 AM	#1
heavyzakura334 Comrade Heavy Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Posts: 933	Longest bridge in the world: green light (Italy) October 13 2005 at 01:21AM By Rachel Sanderson Rome - A centuries-old project to link mainland Italy to the island of Sicily took a major step forward yesterday when an international consortium won a multi-billion-euro contract to build a bridge connecting them. It will be the longest suspension bridge in the world, with a central span of 3,3km, nearly three times longer than San Francisco's Golden Gate. Its two towers will be 383m high - taller than the Eiffel Tower. The Italian state-run company in charge announced that a consortium led by Italian firm Impregilo had been awarded the €3,88-billion contract. This was a 12 percent discount on the €4.4-billion provisional price tag the government had pinned on the most complex engineering job in Italian history. Building is due to begin next year and is due to finish in 2012, but critics doubt whether cash-strapped Italy will ever complete the mega-project. Italy's Green Party said the bridge would be an eyesore and act as "a Trojan horse for the Mafia", drawing mobsters from all over Italy. Premier Silvio Berlusconi championed it during his 2001 election campaign and has argued that the bridge is vital for Italy's impoverished south, which suffers a high unemployment rate. Opponents say the money would be better spent improving roads, railways, schools and hospitals in the south. The idea of linking the toe of Italy to Sicily was first mooted in Roman times. At present, travellers have to take a ferry to cross the straights - a trip which can take two hours. The 60-metre wide bridge would have 10 lanes for cars, trains and emergency vehicles, and will be able to handle 6 000 cars an hour and 200 trains a day. Supporters say it will substantially increase commercial and tourism traffic through southern Italy and into Sicily, boosting the island's economy. Environmentalists say the bridge is potentially hazardous, given that it lies in an active earthquake zone. Messina, the main city on the Sicilian side of the straits, was destroyed by a 7.1 magnitude earthquake in 1908 that killed some 87 000 people. Architects say the structure would be able to withstand an earthquake of more than 7.1. The entire bridge, including supporting cables, would weigh some 300 000 tons. Engineers said tests showed the bridge would withstand a bomb attack or the impact of a plane crash into one or more of its supporting cables. The consortium also includes a Japanese and a Spanish company as well as small Italian firms. - Reuters __________________ Vas y, goute je te dis! Last edited by heavyzakura334; October 13th, 2005 at 10:04 AM. Reason: 2nd part

October 13th, 2005, 10:56 AM	#4
Capzilla Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Rotterdam Posts: 3,224	So that's where my taxes went... __________________ ROB KAPER ∞ ROTTERDAM Fuck a 16-year-old: legal. Have a topless beach picture of her: illegal. Deny the holocaust: illegal. Acknowledge it and approve of it: legal. Smoke marijuana: legal. Put tobacco in it: illegal. And they say I am crazy.

October 13th, 2005, 11:53 AM	#6
Bahraini Spirit Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Bahrain; London Posts: 4,176	Should be very interesting, I've passed through the sea which seperates Sicily and mainland Italy, can imagine how this one would look like, really cool. __________________ <<_>>Live your life, let no one hinder!!!<<_>>

October 13th, 2005, 12:09 PM	#7
909 SV12 R Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 2,262	Don't know if this is the final design, but here are some drawings: Sorry, they are not that small... More pics: http://www.tu-berlin.de/presse/doku/stretto_di_messina/ __________________ ●●flickr Last edited by 909; October 13th, 2005 at 12:16 PM.

October 13th, 2005, 12:29 PM	#9
CborG Rick Bakker Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Culemborg Posts: 4,696	I can only see 2x2 lanes + 2 emergencylanes, great brigde though! __________________ Ik ben niet gek.... Ik ben Psychisch Onverklaarbaar. Rick Bakker

October 13th, 2005, 10:30 AM	#2
Þróndeimr Bli itj barsk ut'n karsk! Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Trondheim Posts: 6,560	Great news, and renderings?

October 13th, 2005, 10:56 AM	#3
mtb_nz Wellington user Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Wellington, NZ Posts: 789	wow that will be a massive bridge... anyone have any renders?

October 13th, 2005, 11:27 AM	#5
Balikbayan William Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Dordrecht & Lucena, Quezon Posts: 99	Earthquakes and suspension bridges do peacefully co-exist. The 7 Richter Scale Kobe earthquake was not a problem for the Akashi Kaikyo Ohashi, presently the worlds longest single-span bridge. Also, while there was considerable damage to the Oakland bridge and McArthur Freeway during the last 'quake there, no damage sustained by the suspension spans of this bridge or the Golden Gate bridge.

October 13th, 2005, 01:46 PM	#10
Van der Rohe mies fan Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Warsaw, Mokotów Posts: 4,151	AMAZING!!!

October 13th, 2005, 02:08 PM	#11
fahed Mr Anti Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Abu Dhabi Posts: 867	Amazing! I hope it gets built without the interfere of the opponents __________________ إن الحاضر الذي نعيشه الآن على هذه الأرض الطيبة هو انتصار على الماضي وقسوة ظروفه" المرحوم الشيخ زايد بن سلطان آل نهيان

October 13th, 2005, 02:34 PM	#12
Dubai-Lover Construction Paradise Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Dubai (UAE) \| Oehringen (GER) \| Bad Honnef (GER) Posts: 12,684	wow amazing project 383m pilons just a question: is there such a high demand for a bridge of these dimensions for the traffic between sicily and italy, which can justify an investment of this scale? __________________ Updates - Dubai on Emporis

October 13th, 2005, 05:41 PM	#14
Ellatur Expert Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 3,502	AWWWWWWWWEsome! great news question: isn't it dangerous for such a big building to be built in such an earthquake zone? __________________ Tua mater tam obesa est ut Romae est, urbs habet octo colles

October 13th, 2005, 05:46 PM	#15
*malec* Rrrraaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!!!! Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Cork Posts: 10,341	I thought the longest bridge was somewhere in China and it is 30-something km in length.

October 13th, 2005, 06:58 PM	#16
SHOCK TREATMENT 2 PARA Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1	It's the longest suspension bridge but not the longest bridge in the world full stop, there are several bridges that can match this for size including the Second Severn Crossing completed in 1996 and linking England and Wales across the Severn Estuary The proposed Morecambe Bay Bridge will dwarf the Severn Bridge and will be a lot bigger than the Italian Bridge. Other big Bridges in the UK include -: The Humber Bridge Last edited by SHOCK TREATMENT; October 13th, 2005 at 07:12 PM.

October 13th, 2005, 07:18 PM	#17
Phobos Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Porto,Portugal-EU(currently living in Brazil) Posts: 8,811	Impressive project __________________ ████ ████ Europe:many countries,only one nation. http://europa.eu/

October 13th, 2005, 07:34 PM	#19
Rhoy °MMIX° Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Mi-Pr Posts: 3,015	Technical Project • 3.300 metres - length of the central span • 3.666 metres - the total length • 60,4 metres - width of the suspended deck • 382,60 metres - total height of the towers • 2 pairs of suspension cables • 5.300 metres long with a diameter of 1,24 metres - dimensions of the cables • 44.352 wires for each cable • 65 metres high by 600 wide - the minimum central navigable clearance Road and rail capacity • 6 driving lanes, 3 for each direction (1 fast, 1 normal, 1 emergency) • 2 service lanes • 2 rail tracks • 6.000 vehicles/hour and 200 trains/day - the theorical traffic capacity Records • 3.300 metres length of the central span - 1991 metres Akashi Bridge (Japan) • 60,4 metres width of the suspended deck- 41 metres Tsing Ma Bridge (Hong Kong) • 382,60 metres height of the towers- 297 metres Akashi Bridge (Japan) • 4 cables - suspension system- 2 Akashi Bridge (Japan) • 1,24 metres diameter of suspension cables- 1,12 metres Akashi Bridge (Japan) • 44.352 wires for each steel cable- 36.830 Akashi Bridge (Japan)

October 13th, 2005, 07:42 PM	#20
UnitedPakistan Musharraf Ka Danda! Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: I represent every city of Pakistan Posts: 7,980	Intresting! Pakistan is also trying to make one of the longest bridges! From Karachi to Bundle Island __________________ AWAM KI AWAZ! ELECTIONS 2008: WE ARE THE ELEMENTS OF CHANGE! Har waqt hoon mein Pakistan ke liye..

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